Paradox Interactive announces the release of Crusader Kings II: The Republic, the third expansion for Crusader Kings II, the strategy/RPG sequel. In related notes, a new patch is now available to update Crusader Kings II to version 1.09 (this extensive post outlines what this does), and PC Gamer notes a Fredrik Wester tweet about Linux support in the series: "Dear Twitter followers, it seems I haven't told you that Crusader Kings 2 is available for Linux." In addition to The Republic expansion, two smaller DLC packs are also now available on most digital portals. Crusader Kings II: Songs of Prosperity contains three new songs, and Crusader Kings II: Mediterranean Portraits contains thousands of unique face combos for male and female characters. Here's word on The Republic:

Crusader Kings II: The Republic introduces the great merchant Republics of medieval Europe as playable entities for the first time. A fresh, new experience from playing as a feudal region in Crusader Kings II, players adopt the role as the head, or Patrician, of one of the five great merchant families in the Republic as they build trade posts and expand provincial empires while attempting to assert dominance over the other rival families, Republics and feudal lords.

By all means, buy the Buy Europa Universalis III Chronicles. Not the Complete Edition, that lacks the last 2 addons.

I have my doubts about EU IV. Those individual national ideas could cause more harm than do good imho. And that practically everything depends on monarch power seems also odd. Either in historical context as well as for balancing. Other things as the trade routes for example, seem excellent.

So I expect that EU IV will require some time till it will be great too.

CK2 has been my gateway into Paradox strategy games, and I'm really looking forward to EU4. Been a few bugs in CK2 for me recently though. Two major ones in The Republic alone, but as I understand it QA is not a particular strength of the studio. Still, I'm willing to tolerate such things for the fun I've already got out of it.